amonia & amonium - what am I not 'getting'?

[lboogy]

Hi everyone,

 

Can someone please help me with the above. I don't get why ammonium is positive - I mean, it has an extra H, it hasn't lost an electron. The extra electron gained from the 4th N-H bond would give it an extra electron to NH3, which should give it a negative charge?

 

Also, how/why can it form that 4th N-H bond that takes it from NH3 with a full energy field to NH4? I'm really confused, this is questioning my basic understanding!

 

thanks in advance everyone

Gav

[YT2095]

try this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammonium

[lboogy]

Hi, thanks for that, I read it before I posted on here, but now I've read it again and it sinks in!

[YT2095]

no worries, it happens to me too, usually after my second coffee